1787 Fugio Copper. Pointed Rays. Newman 17-WW, W-6945. Rarity-6. STATES UNITED, 4 Cinquefoils. VF Details--Environmental Damage (PCGS).

Medium brown and golden-olive with some shallow black scale at the upper obverse periphery. Evenly and lightly granular on both sides, with a more substantial planchet flaw at 9 o'clock on the obverse, major enough to manifest as some striations at the same spot on the reverse. The central obverse is a bit swollen due to the advanced die state, but the sharpness is otherwise fairly even and full for the assigned grade. This is a very rare variety, cataloged as Rarity-5 in the past due to that rating being assigned in the Newman book on the series, but it is clear that nowhere near that many examples actually exist. We knew of 13 at the time this piece sold in our sale of the Rob Retz Family Collection in 2012 and are aware of a handful more that have come to light since. Most of these are quite low grade and/or rough and the offered specimen is more than respectable in comparison.

PCGS# 878109.

From the Pierre Fricke Collection. Earlier from our sale of the Rob Retz Family Collection, November 2012 Baltimore Auction, lot 6815.